Uncertainty over Agric council meeting

Communiqué

There seems to be unclear date when the National Council on Agricultural and Rural Development (NCARD) meeting initially slated for April in Jos, Plateau state will take place, Foodfarmnews finding gathered.

The NCARD meeting held last year in Abuja as against the initial agreed venue of Jos at Umahia, Abia  was cancelled due to insecurity occasioned by  incessant attack on the citizens in Plateau state.

The meeting had to be held in Abuja last year for the purpose of important decisions that needed to be taken towards ensuring food security by the council members in view of Covid- 19 pandemic and flood impacts of 2020.

Foodfarmnews findings revealed that the recent insecurity in Plateau state cum political primaries towards year 2023 presidential election may have been attributed to why clear picture of how the program for this year will go, even as the hosting state has not said anything about the event and the official time.

Concerned stakeholders in the sector who prefer anonymity told our correspondents that insecurity situation in the country has really affected the kind of aural the meeting usually garner as many stakeholders used to be involved because of adequate preparation until the  experiences in the recent times.

Some of the stakeholders told us that the council meeting should begin to look beyond approval of memos and proposals for the current years,  but rather go a step further to verify the outcome of all the approved memos in the last three, two years for proper evaluation and monitoring to ascertain implementation and executions for the development of the sector  commercially towards  food security.

They actually wanted to know the outcome of the decisions taken at the Umuahia, Abia state in 2019 where about 21 proposals were approved for implementation and execution by the council .

Read the full text of the last communiqué issued at the last year meeting for an update

COMMUNIQUÉ

 

1.0              The 44^thRegular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD), with the theme ''Nigeria's agriculture and Food Security in the face of Covid-19, Floods and Insecurity, ''was held at the International Conference Centre, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, from 15^th – 17^th, June, 2021, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammad Sabo Nanono.

 

2.0              The Council Meeting was preceded by the Technical Meeting of Officials of the NCARD, held on15^th and 16^th, June, 2021, under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest A. Umakhihe.

 

3.0              The Officials Meeting considered eight (8no.) Lead Papers presented by experts in the field of agriculture, which focused on the theme of the 44^th NACRD Meeting. The meeting also considered Thirty-Nine (39no.) substantive and Twenty-Four (24 no.) information memoranda, presented by public and private organizations in the sector. Subsequently the Report of the Officials Meeting was produced for Council consideration as appropriate.

 

4.0              The Council Meeting held on Thursday, 17^thJune,2021,was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono. Joining in participation were the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, Honourable Commissioners of Agriculture from the 36 States of the Federation and the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Professor M.T. Usman.

 

5.0              The Council Meeting was also attended by Eight Hundred and Eighty (880) participants including sixty-four (64 no.) via Zoom and Facebook. They comprised stakeholders from the National Assembly, Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture, Departments and Agencies, Organized Private Sector, Nigeria Agricultural Business Group, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Industrial Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

 

6.0              Others were the representative of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, Women Organizations,  Seeds and Fertilizer Companies, Agro-Input Dealers as well as Action-Aid and other Civil Society Organizations.

 

7.0              The Welcome Address at the opening session was delivered by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri. Goodwill messages were presented by the Chairman of House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Honourable Muni Baba Dan’agundi, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Farouk Mudi and the Country Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization, H.E. Fred Kafero.

 

8.0              The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammad Sabo Nanono delivered the keynote address and formally declared the Meeting open, while the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest A. Umakhihegave the Vote-of-Thanks at the end of the opening session.

           

9.0              Council considered and adopted the 43^rdNCARD Meeting Report along with the actions taken by relevant stakeholders against the Matters Arising from the 43^rdNCARD Meeting. A total of 39memoranda were presented and deliberated upon by Council.

10.0     Council acknowledged as follows:

1. The efforts of the administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to diversify the Nigerian economy from dependence on oil and gas by repositioning agriculture to its rightful place in the Nigerian economy.
2. The level of economic devastation COVID-19 pandemic, floods and general insecurity in the country had caused in the agricultural sector.
3. The need to bring a lasting solution to the challenges of Herders/Farmers conflict and its attendant insecurity challengesto boostingAgricultural productionin the country.
4. The role of Federal and State Governmentsin bringing about lasting solutions to the challenges of food security in Nigeria.
5. The efforts of the Organized Private Sector, Development and Technical Partners, Civil Society Organizations in their quest in solving the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria.

7.0       Council also recognized as follows:

6. The need for the three tiers of Government to increase investments in rural infrastructure to open rural farming communities to markets and further reduce the migration of youth to urban centers.
7. The need for the policy process for food security to be oriented from the traditional notion of food as human need to the contemporary notion of food as a human right.
8. The need for agricultural research development and improved food storage in Nigeriato mitigate the pandemics and other natural disasters.
9. The need to revitalize agricultural extension services delivery along the instrument of adopted villages and schools for greater effectiveness.
10. Theneed to promote private investment and financing agribusiness value-chains.
11. The need to mainstream women and youth in to agricultural and rural development programmes for job creation.
12. The need for adoption of a sustainable organization of actors into clusters for building value chain network in addressing common challenges and pursuing common opportunities.
13. The need for Digital Agriculture, its challenges and opportunities for food security, improved livelihoods, and prosperity in Nigeria.

8.0       Council also approved as follows:

14. The conduct of detailed National Survey and Soil Fertility Mapping nationwide in collaboration with the private sector.
15. The Draft National Agricultural ExtensionPolicy to be domesticated at State and Local Government Levels.
16. The development and improvement of artisanal fishing in Nigeria especially Niger Delta States of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, etc., from unimproved subsistence level of fish production.
17. The strategies of increasing domestic fish production,mitigating post-harvest losses of fish produce, and reducing fish importation.
18. The conduct of national livestock census and e-registrationto re-establish national baseline for livestock population.
19. The national policies for the control of Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia disease, Foot and Mouth disease, and African Swine Fever in Nigeria.
20. The domestication and implementation of National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
21. The adoption of remote sensing technology for improved generation of agricultural statistics for policy planning and early warning systems.
22. The FGN support in climate resilience agricultural strategies and PPP agro-industries establishment.
23. The mainstreaming of nutrition and food safety into extension and Agricultural Intervention activities.
24. The proposal for the training of 75,000 extension workers over a period of three years, whichwould include beneficiaries of N-Power and options of funding strategy which include a proposed 2.5% farmers loan, levies on agricultural products and CBN support.
25. The proposal to revive school farmsand Young Farmers Club to encourage youth to venture into farming as a business for sustainable agricultural development.
26. The proposal for utilization of cold store as a storage facility for potato/vegetable (tomato, onion, cabbage, etc.).
27. The establishment of Bio-pesticide Centre in Nigeria for food security and safety.
28. The abolition of the use of tyre, kerosene, and plastic materials for flaying of animal for human consumption with a view to replacing the harmful substances with renewable energy and gas.
29. The establishment of livestock disease free zones/compartments for improved diseases control and facilitation of international trade in animals and animal products.
30. The proposal for resuscitation of National Agricultural Data Management and Information System for planning and policy coordination.
31. The increased funding commitments compliance of Federal, State and Local Governments with Maputo/Malabo declaration for meeting the SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, by allocating a minimum of 10% of annual budget to agriculture.
32. The Green Imperative Project for improved mechanization of agriculture.
33. The National Livestock Transformation Plan proposed to be implemented over 10 years in Nigeria, with involvement of private sector.
34. The Draft National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Plan (NATIP 2021-2025).
35. Mainstreaming Agri-Tech for Agricultural Growth and Sustainability.
36. Agriculture for Food and Job Plan.
37. Cocoyam Value Chain Development Promotion for Food Security and Economic Empowerment in Nigeria.
38. The Review of Entry Point for Agricultural Officers from Grade Level 08 to Grade Level 09.
39. Strengthening of Research Farmers Inputs Linkage Systems (REFILS) as a Way of Revitalising Extension Delivery Services
40. The establishment of NCARD Resolutions Implementation Task Team to ensure compliance on Council resolutions.

9.0                          Council unanimously resolved to hold the 45^th NCARD Meeting in Jos, PlateauState in 2022.

 

This Day: 17^thJune 2021

International Conference Centre,

Abuja, Nigeria.